Permanent makeup technique now offered at Hair Brains Studio in Carmi

Amy Barnett, owner and operator of Hair Brains Hair Studio, located at 1500 West Oak Street in Carmi, had thought several times she would like to add another service to her salon.

Tammy Knox Of The Carmi Times

Amy Barnett, owner and operator of Hair Brains Hair Studio, located at 1500 West Oak Street in Carmi, had thought several times she would like to add another service to her salon. Therefore, when she was approached by Hailey Nichols regarding permanent makeup, she decided to prepare a space for Nichols and see where the unique service would go. The decision to add it into the salon has been well received, and so far, Nichols is keeping busy with "Forever Young Permanent Makeup."

"My mom (Robin Nichols) got permanent eyeliner done in December and we got to thinking about it," said Nichols. "I was looking for something to help pay for school, and although there is a lady in Harrisburg that does permanent makeup, there really isn't anyone else in the area that provides the service."

Barnett has styled Nichols hair for a long time. During an appointment one day, Nichols asked for her opinion on the service, which started the process of adding it onto the option list at Hair Brains.

"I asked Amy (Barnett) her opinion of how it (permanent makeup) would go over in Carmi," said Nichols. "She thought it was great. She had an open room, so all I had to do was pursue it."

Nichols and her mom, Robin, went to school in May in Boca Raton, Fla. to learn the technique of applying permanent makeup. The course was two weeks in length, and they opted to stay longer to take advantage of advanced training for other unique features, such as paramedical tattooing. This service includes the ability to tattoo coloring on the breast area for women who have undergone a mastectomy.

The unique tattooing brings a 3-D look to the area, making it look more natural. Nichols said this is a really important service to ladies who have undergone reconstructive surgery and can boost self esteem, bringing their bodies closer to their natural state.

Unique tattooing can also be done for almost any type of scar or surface need on the body. Nichols said after one lady lost a toenail on her big toe, she came into a licensed paramedical tattoo technician and had a toenail tattooed on her big toe.

"If you have an imagination, you can do almost anything with a tattoo," said Nichols. "The types of tattoos we are trained in are not the type of ink or procedures used in a regular tattoo shop. The ink we use is more refined and we use different pigments. Our inks are iron based and they don't go as deep as a traditional tattoo."

Nichols explained that a tattoo that one may get on their arm or leg, for instance, is created with a carbon based ink and it tends to migrate or smear over time. Nichols can even assist with traditional tattoos, offering tattoo removals.

"We don't use lasers for tattoo removals," said Nichols. "The procedure we use creates oxidation of the skin and the process takes time. Sometimes it will take a couple of treatments to totally remove an existing tattoo."

Nichols said so far, the biggest request from her clients has been eyeliner and brows. Eyeliner can be applied both on the top eyelid as well as the bottom. She offers two different techniques on eyebrows. Some ladies opt for the powder fill, which is more dramatic and stands out more. Others will go with the hair strokes, which can be used to fill in areas of the brow that may not be as thick. Having brush strokes intermingled into an eyebrow go virtually unnoticed by the naked eye, but they do give the appearance of having fuller, thicker brows.

In addition to eyeliner and eyebrows, Nichols has also provided lip service. Permanent makeup first became popular with the lip liner only. However, the industry has advanced and will now use a shade to cover the entire lip along with the liner. Nichols still provides the full lip service, which is more dramatic and noticeable.

"Lip shade actually takes the liner and blends it in toward the inner lip," said Nichols. "It makes it look more natural. A shade requires lip liner, so both services are recommended."

Nichols utilizes both a digital machine as well as a rotary machine. The rotary machine is mainly used as backup or for touchups. An application for eyeliner or for lips will usually last five to six years. Nichols does provide one free touch up within 30 days of the service.

"People will usually come in and start thin and then they come back to get thicker lines," said Nichols. "They want to enhance their features. I always tell them, you can add to it, but you can't always take it away."

Nichols has been surprised at the business levels she has experienced thus far. She has provided a lot of specials as her business is growing, and will offer a special through the end of August, which includes $25 off partial eyebrows or $50 off a full treatment. Prices range from $200 for eyeliner, which includes top and bottom to $400 for full eyebrows. The length of time for a client depends on the procedure or the person's skin type, but most eyeliner applications take approximately 90 minutes while full lips would require more time, averaging closer to two hours for the process.

Although Nichols cannot take her services on the road and is required by law to perform all permanent makeup applications in her room at Hair Brains, she does offer a "party day" where a group can come in for a discount and get their services done in a block of time. She says eyeliner is the most popular choice but most ladies get to thinking about it and come back for the eyebrow treatment.

"I use a topical cream and put it right where the tattooing will go," said Nichols. "We tag as we go, and if the client feels pain, we'll stop and tag it again and we'll start again. The procedure is more awkward and there is a little discomfort but it is not painful."

Nichols has before and after photos on her Facebook page at Forever Young Permanent Makeup. One may see the transformation and see what the technique includes.

One of her first clients was Barnett, who had both her eyeliner and brows done. The technique can now free her up from constant touchups of makeup. For a working mother, every little aspect of getting oneself ready in the morning is important, and the addition of permanent makeup just made her day go a little smoother.

Barnett is married to Dustin Barnett, who works at White County Coal. The couple has two boys, Drake, age nine, and Myles, age four. She has been working as a hair stylist since May 2001. A graduate of CWCHS, Barnett attended John A. Logan. Upon receiving her certification, she worked at a shop in Carbondale before moving back to Carmi in January 2008.

"When I first came back to Carmi, I did hair right out of my house until September 2009," said Barnett. "I then moved into a shop on Webb Street, until it we got flooded out during the big floods in April 2011."

After that time, Barnett moved her shop to the current location on West Oak Street in the same business complex as James Cook's State Farm Insurance Agency.

Barnett provides any type of hair service in Hair Brains Studio, but is especially proficient with hair color. She keeps up to date on the latest trends by attending hair shows in St. Louis, Nashville, Tenn. and other points in the Midwest.

"It seems like the majority of people have long hair but bolder color is definitely trending at this point," said Barnett. "Being able to offer a unique service such as permanent eye makeup has been a positive step for the shop."

Although Nichols is passionate about learning the trade of permanent eye makeup, her hopes are to one day become a veterinarian. Nichols recently graduated from Murray State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in agriculture. She is currently working on her masters from MSU and hopes to move into veterinary school within the next few months.

Until that time, she has built up quite a business that complements Barnett's Hair Brains Hair Studio.

Barnett is available for appointments from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. She will provide weekend service for special occasions such as weddings, dances or other special events. For more information on Barnett and Hair Brains Studio, contact Barnett at 382-3184.

Nichols, who also works at Carmi Veterinary Clinic for Dr. Jim Zieren, tries to accommodate work schedules and other conflicts when at all possible. In addition to daytime hours, she offers some evening times for permanent makeup appointments. She may be reached at 383-1773.

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